Ornamental band for washing machine tubs



March 11, 19-41 E. c. COOLEY ORNAMENTAL BAND FOR WASHING MACHINE TUBS Filed June 9, 1939 UM U TM H H5 R E. V T Hm T m. A

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'- Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES ORNAMENTAL OHINETUB BAND FOR. WASHING Elmer G. Cooley, Syracuse, N. Y., asslgnor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y.,

a corporation of Delaware Application June 9, 1939, Serial No. 278,202

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines or the like in which metal bands or straps are provided for ornamental purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide an ornamental band of the type described which is of such construction and so protected and reenforced by the adjacent surfaces of the article to which it is applied, that light, flexible sheet metal may be used for the hand without sacriiicing strength and while giving an appearance of great solidity to the band.

A further object of this invention is to provide a washing machine tub or the like with an orn'amental band or strap which may be quickly and easily secured to the tub in cooperative relation therewith without the use of screws, bolts or the like or tools for manipulating the same. Another object of the invention is to provide an ornamental band or strap for a clothes washing machine tub with means engaging the ends of the band or strap adapted to resiliently urge relative movement of the ends with respect to each other whereby the band or strap will be maintained in tight gripping engagement with the tub irrespective of variations within limits in the length of-the strap or band or in the circumference of the tub, whether due to expansion or contraction or to any other cause.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothes washing machine having ornamental bands constructed in accordance with this invention associated therewith. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through one of the ornamental bands and the adjacent portion of the washing machine tub taken substantially in the planeof the line 2-2, Figure 1.

1 Figure 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-3, Figure 1, illustrating the ends of jithe band positioned in cooperative relation with each other within the usual shroud for the wringer drive shaft housing of the washing machine,

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation as viewed from line 4-4, Figure 3, illustrating the adjacent ends of the band or strap with my novel spring clamp connected therewith for securing the band or strap to the'tub of the washing machine.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the adjacent ends of the band or strap with a shaft I2 extending upwardly from the 10 lower portion of the apron ll exteriorly of the tub or vat ID for driving the rolls of a wringer It. The shaft 12, as illustrated in Figure 3, is mounted in a tubular case or housing M which is concealed within a suitable shroud l5, primarily for the sake of appearance.

The washing machine is illustrated in Figure 1 as being provided with three of my novel ornamental bands or straps I'I arranged in substantially parallel vertical spaced relation to each other, one band being mounted at the junction of the skirt II and vat ill for concealing the joint formed thereby and the other two bands being arranged on the tub ill in close relation to the lower band I1.

Each ornamental band i1 is composed of a narrow strip of thin sheet metal having a length substantially equal to the circumference of the tub it so as to encircle said tub. These bands are usually chromium plated or otherwise treated, as with paint or enamel, so that the outer surface thereof pleasingly contrasts with the outer peripheral surfaces of the tub l0 and apron II.

The washing machine is preferably provided with a series of parallel grooves or recesses in the outer peripheral surface thereof, one for each band IT. The grooves l8 for the two upper bands I! are formed in the tub In as illustrated in Figure 2, while the groove or recess for the lowermost band I! may be substantially similar except that it is formed by the adjacent edges of the vat l0 and the apron II. The groove l8 shown in Figure 2 has an arcuate central portion IQ of substantially the same width as the width of a band H. The central portion l9 has its intermediate portion terminating inwardly from the normal plane of the outer peripheral surface of the tube distance substantially equal to the thickness of the band I! while its upper and lower side portions I 9' terminate inwardly a short distance from the normal plane of the outer face of the tub. The side portions I! are connected with the adjacent portions of the vat why the reversely curved portions 20 which provide annular channels 20' adapted to receive the longitudinal side portions 2| the band I! therein.

The band I! is slightly curved transversely so,

as to conform closely to the contour of the arcuate central portion IQ of the groove l8, as indicated in Figure 2, so that when the band is clamped around the tub said band will be snugly maintained in substantially fixed predetermined relation with the tub. By this construction, I am enabled to use thin sheet metal for the bands I! without rendering them unduly liable to be dented or marred inservice, as each band is reenforced throughout its entire width and length by the arcuate portion IQ of the groove l8. Furthermore, the edges 2| of the band are protected by being seated in the annular channels 20, and this not only prevents the edges of'the band from being accidentally caught and raised or bent, but the arcuate construction gives the band a desirable appearance of solidity and strength. As hereinbefore stated, the band or strap I1 is of such a length with respect to the circumference of the tub l0 and more particularly to the circumference of the groove l8 that, when mounted in said groove, the ends 22 of the band or strap will terminate adjacent each other, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. In order that the ends 22 of the band l'l may be concealed, it is preferable that the band be so mounted on the tub that said ends will be positioned within the shroud l5 for the wringer drive shaft housing H.

However, it will be understood that the band may be so mounted that its ends 22 may be concealed beneath other members associated with the tub depending upon the structure of the washing machine. The ends 22 of the band are formed substantially flat and in substantially right angular relation to the plane of the remaining portion of the band. This is accomplished by bending the central portion of the band outwardly, as at 23, Figure 3, a distance substantially equal to one-half the normal width of the band I1 and also bending the adjacent side portions inwardly toward each other so that sort! side portions lie in superposed relation substantially midway of the band with the inner edges thereof in substantially the plane of the inner surface of the body portion of the band, as -indicated in Figure 3. Each flat end portion 22 of the band is provided with a hole 24 stamped or otherwise formed therein.

The ends 22 of the band, in this instance, are tied to each other by my novel resilient clamp 25 which is composed of a single piece of spring 5 wire of slightly less diameter than that of the holes 24 so as to readily extend through said holes. The clamp is formed by bending the wire in such a manner as to provide a loop 28 and two jaws 21 at one side of the loop. Each jaw 21 is provided with a bend or niche 28 in its inner face. These bends 28 are adapted, when the jaws are in engagement with the ends 22 of the band, to prevent the clamp and band ends from moving out of engagement with each other. The bends 28 of the jaws 21 are normally yieldingly maintained by the loop 28 in spaced relation to each other a distance slightly less than the distance between the holes 24 when the band I1 is mounted in a recess [8.

When positioning the band II on the tub, the band is wrapped about said tub in engagement with the arcuate surface ll, after which the ends or jaws 21 of the clamp 25 are inserted into the holes 24. Inasmuch as the bends 28 of the laws 2'! are normally spaced apart a distance less than 'the normal distance between the holes 28 when with the curved portion I! of the groove II in maintaining the band in fixedpredetermined relation with the tub l8.

Although the construction and application of my band and clamp are particularly simple, practical and efiicient, it is evident that various changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ornamental band of the class described comprising a narrow strip of flexible metal, said strip having fiat end portions extending longitudinally of the strip and disposed at right angles to the main portion thereof, said end portions having holes therein, and a loop spring clamp provided with jaw members extending into said holes for maintaining said end portions in close relation to each other and urging said band into engagement with an object confined thereby, the loop of said clamp being arranged at one side of said flat end portions with the axis thereof extending substantially normal to the plane of said end portions whereby said clamp is positioned in close proximity to the object confined by the band.

' 2. An ornamental band of the class described composed of a narrow strip oi flexible metal initially 01' substantially equal width throughout its length, said strip having portions at opposite sides of its center line adjacent each end thereof bent into overlying relation with each other to provide substantially flat end portions extending longitudinally of the strip at right angles to the main portion of said strip, said end portions having holes therein, and a spring clamp formed of a single piece of wire having its intermediate portion bent into a loop and its ends extending outwardly from one side of the loop in substantially the plane thereof and into said holes for maintaining said end portions in close relation with each other and urging said band into engagement with an object confined thereby.

3. An ornamental band structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said ends of the clamp have portions bent laterally to form niches at the inner sides thereof registering with the corresponding flat end portion for removably securing the clamp and band to each other.

. ELMER C. COOLEY. 

